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Asheville Biking Expert: Liberty Bikes
1378 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC
(828) 274-2453 || libertybikes.com
Green’s Lick Trail (Asheville Mountain Biking): With 2.5
miles of advanced single-track that drops 800 feet in a constant barrage of high
berms and big jumps, Green’s Lick is a popular local favorite and one of the best
Asheville bike rides. If you’re looking for a short ride around two hours, we
recommend heading up Deer Lake Lodge, left on Wolf Branch, right on 479E,
left on Ingles Field Gap, and stay straight at Five Points to North Boundary
before bombing Green’s Lick down. Head right on 479C and left on Lower
Sidehill to complete the loop. The options for longer mountain bike rides at
Bent Creek are nearly endless, so if you’re in the mood for a full day of riding,
you won’t be disappointed by the abundance of fun trails at Bent Creek. We
recommend heading by Liberty Bicycles to rent bikes, gear up and grab a map for a
full day of exploring. Directions from Asheville: Take I-240 W to I-26 E
and get off on Exit 2, NC 191.Turn left and head south on NC 191 for 2 miles.Turn right
at the stoplight onto Bent Creek Ranch Road and an almost immediate left on Wesley
Branch Road. Continue about 2 miles.We like the parking lot off 479 (dirt road) just past
the Hardtimes trailhead.
Ride The Blue Ridge (MP 388 to MP 417): Roughly 27 miles of
steady climbing on one of the most famous roads in America make this a must-do ride
for cyclists in western North Carolina. You’ll pass several impressive overlooks, pedal
through a handful of tunnels (bring lights), and cap off the ride with a view of Looking
Glass Rock, a towering dome of granite deep in Pisgah National Forest. Turn around
and enjoy the mostly downhill ride back to town. Directions from Asheville:
Head south out of Asheville on McDowell St./US 25 S. This turns in to US 25 S/
Hendersonville Rd. just past the Biltmore Estate. Follow this all the way to the Blue
Ridge Parkway. Once on the Parkway, park anywhere and head south.
Kitsuma Mountain Bike Trail (Black Mountain): This
ride is a 10 mile loop with close to 2,200 feet of elevation change. Located in the
Pisgah National Forest, Kitsuma Trail is one of the most famous in the Asheville area.
The ride starts with a serious lungbuster of a climb that challenges you with 14
switchbacks. Don’t let the first painful 15 minutes get in your head-the next 5
miles consist of epic and sometimes steep rolling singletrack on the ridgeline
that ends with a fast and furious downhill in to the Old Fort picnic area. Take
the Point Lookout Trail (closed to cars) and savor the views of the opposing
mountain you just conquered. If you’re feeling fresh, drop in and do it all again or
make your way to nearby Heartbreak Ridge, one of the area’s longest downhill
trails. Directions from Asheville: Take I-40 East for about 16 miles to the
Ridgecrest exit (the exit just past Black Mtn).Turn left off the exit, cross bridge, then turn
right at stop sign. Head about 1 mile to stop sign. Go straight and parking for trailhead is
about 1/4 mile on your left.
Trace Ridge Trail (M